Sermon - February 1st, 2009 by Ray Hawkins

This Sunday morning, we begin a 3-week series entitled, “LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING.”  This sermon series is based on the award-winning country/western song by Tim McGraw by the same name.  His song was written in response to his father’s death.  Taken in a bigger context, it is really for all of us to think about how we should be living life more fully….. and the things that hold us back from doing just that! He states three ways in which he has learned to live more fully. 

These three phrases become our sermon topics for the next 3 weeks, beginning today.

• #1:  And I LOVED Deeper
• #2:  And I SPOKE Sweeter
• #3:  And I GAVE FORGIVENESS I’d Been Denying

As we look at each of these challenges from a biblical perspective, we see that they are exactly ways in which we, as Christians, should be living on a daily basis.  All of us want to love deeper- both with friends and enemies, but particularly with God!  Loving is not always a natural response on our part to situations in our lives…and to the people who cause them!  If God truly is LOVE…. maybe we can grow deeper in our love for and with Him.  Let’s explore some ways together!